Toy



July 31, 1962 w. F. BUH, JR., r-:TAL 3,046,683

Toy

Filed June 20, 1960 Filed .lune 20, 1960, Ser. N0. 37,140 8 Claims. (Cl. 40-106.22)

this invention relates generally to toys and especially to toys for little girls. More particularly, the invention relates to and has for its principal object a toy which resembles a percolator coffeepot and which simulates the perking activity associated with such a coifeepot.

Further objects of the invention include the provision of a toy of the type described which is easy and safe to use; which can beA filled with water when the lid is raised or removed and can be emptied by pouringthrough a spout; and/ or which can be economically manufactured and will provide many hours of entertaining play.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent by reference to the followingdescription and the accompanying drawings of one embodiment of the invention in which:

FiGURE l is an elevational View, partially broken away and sectioned, ofatoy coifeepot embodying various features ofLtheinvention, the perking4 mechanism being shown at the bottom of its stroke;

FIGURE 2 is a View` similar to FIGURE 1, the view being rotated 90 degrees and showing the perking lmechanism at the top of its stroke; and

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3--3 of FGURE l. 'i

The toy shown in FIGURES l and 2 is designed to closely resemble, both in appearance and operation, an electricalcoffeepot or percolator. As shown, the coffeepottoy includes a main body 11 having a liquid reservoir 13 and a removable lid 15 including a generally transparent portion, such as the common glass, knob usually incorporated in percolator. coffeepots. Locatedk in the reservoir 13 isa conduit or tube 19 which extends upwardly to adjacent the transparent lid portion 17. Also included in the toy is a. pumping or perking mechanism 21 which is operable toforce liquid upwardly through the tube 19 andagainst the transparent lid portion 17 in a manner closely simulating the perking` of a coifeepot.

More specifically, the main body 11 can'be fabricated in several ways, as by molding plastic or shaping metal, to provide an exterior configuration closely resembling a cotfeepot. The main body 1l of the disclosed embodiment is generally cylindrical, tapering upwardly and inwardly slightly, and includes a handlef23, a pouring spout 25 which communicates with the reservoir 13, several legs 27 at the bottom, and a partially recessedelectrical switch 29 which isl flanked by a guard formation 31. At its upper end, the main body i1 presents a circular opening into which thelid 15 can be located.

The lid 15 resembles the lid of a real coifeepot and constitutes a circular. cover which can be fabricated of plastic or metal and has the usual peripheral lbulge or ledge 33 which rests on the upper. edge of the main body if. when the lid is assembled to the main body. The generally transparent portion of the lid l is centrally locatedy andV can constitute an integral part of the lid 15 or, if desired, a central opening can be provided inthe lid and a separate transparent knob of generally transparent material, such as glass or plastic, can be located in the opening as is the usual case in real coffeepots. It is contemplated that tap water will be used in the toy and, ac-

cordingly, the transparent portion 17 Vis preferably coifeecolored. However, if desired, Vthe transparent portion 17 could be clear and a nontoxic coloring pellet Could be added to the water to provide a coffee-colored liquid.

nite tates Patent which includes a series of cut-outs 71.

"ice

Patented `Fully 3l, 1962.v

The reservoir 13 is supported in the upper part of the main body 11 by a pair of spaced brackets 35 and 37 and constitutes a slightly upwardly and inwardly tapering vessel having a side wall 39 and a flexible bottom Wall 41, which bottom wall also serves as a part of the pumping mechanism 21. At its upper end, the reservoir 13 includes a partial top wall 43 to prevent spilling out of the top, of the reservoir when pouring through the spout 25.

Adjacent its lower end, the reservoir 13 includes an inwardly extending projection 45 having an underface 47 whichconstitutesy a valve seat. Above the underface 47 of the projection 45, the side wall 39 includes an aperture 49 connecting with a passageway 51 leading into the pouring spout 25 so as to permit draining of the reservoir.

The, bottom wall 41 of the reservoir 13constitutes a flexible diaphragm which is supported on the end of a crank arm 53 and which can be fabricated of-.any flexible liquid-imperviousmaterial. As shown, the diaphragm is fabricated of rubber and includes a peripheral portion 55 which extends in overlying relation to the bottom margin of the outersurface of the reservoir side wall 39. The peripheral portion of the diaphragm is held in engagement with the bottom marginof the outer surface of the sidewall 39 to form aliquid-tight seal by frictional engagement` between the reservoir side Wall 39 and the' spaced brackets 35 and 37.

More particularly, the upper bracket 35 includes an undercut57V into which is received the upper edge margin of the diaphragm, while the outer lip 59 of the bracket 35 frictionally engages the reservoir side wall 39. The lower bracket 37 is formed with an upwardly facing ledge 61 which underlies the bottom edge of the reservoir side Wall 39, gripping the diaphragm therebetween. p

Movably located in the reservoir 13 is an inverted funnel 63which constitutes a part of the pumping mechanism 21 and which is sealed against the underface 47 when the liquid is forced upwardly and against the transparent lid portion 17. More particularly, the inverted funnel 63 includes generally a conical portion 65 and the tube 19 which extends upwardly from the conical portion 65 to adjacent'the transparent lid portion 17 and which has its exit opening at the top thereof. At the base of the conical portion 65, the funnel includes a flange 67 which .extends outwardly between the bottom wall or diaphragm ilv and the underface 47 `and is engageable with the underface to provide a liquid-tight seal. Extending downwardly from the flange 67 in spaced relation to the lower margin of the reservoir lside Wall 39 is a rim or skirt 69 which limits downward travel of the flange 67 from its position of sealing engagement with the underface 47 and When theinverted funnel 63. is in its lowered position, i.e., with the flange 67 spaced from the underface '47, liquid is permitted to flow between the reservoir side wall 39 and the skirt 69 and through the cut-outs 71 into the space enclosed by the conical portion 65 of the funnel 63.

When the bottom Wall or diaphragm 41 is subsequently flexed toward the'funnel 63 bythev pumping mechanism, the liquid under the funnel acts to elevate the funnel and to seat the flange `67 against the underface 47 whereby continued movement of the bottom wall 41 toward the The crank shaft also carries a large pulley or sheave 79 which is connected by a belt 81, such as a rubber band, to the rotor of a small direct current electrical motor 83.

The motor is carried by supporting blocks 85 located in ways S7 fixed on the interior of the main body 11. Also included within the main body 11 is a housing 89 for a battery 90. Preferably, the bottom wall of the main body 11 incorporates a door (not shown) to permit replacement of the battery.

Operation of the toy is controlled by an electrical circuit 91 which connects the battery 90 to the motor 83 and which includes the off-on switch 29. More particularly, one terminal of the battery 90 is connected by an electrical lead 93 to the motor 83, while the other terminal of the battery 90 is connected by an electrical lead 95 to the switch 29 which, in turn, is connected by an electrical lead 97 to the motor 83.

The switch 29 constitutes a button 99 having a stem 103 Awhich extends through a slot 105 in the wall of the main body 11 and which has securedat its inner end a contact blade 107 constituting a portion of the circuit 91. The fLxed engagement of the contact blade 107 is such so as to provide frictional restraint to movement of the button 99 along the slot 105. Thus, as seen in FIGURE 2, when the button is in its lower position, the circuit 91 is closed and, if the reservoir 13 contains a supply of liquid, the coffeepot will per However, when the button 99 is manually moved upwardly, the circuit 91 will be opened and the toy will be inactive.

After the reservoir 13 is filled with water to a level above the underface 47 and preferably to a level about as shown in FIGURE 1, and when the switch 29 is closed, the motor S3 will cause the crank arm 53 to reciprocate up and down. On the upward or pumping stroke of the crank arm 53, the diaphragm or bottom wall 41 of the reservoir 13 is moved toward the funnel 63 and causes the water within the conical portion 65 of the funnel to exert sufcient raising pressure against the funnel to establish a seal between the tlange 67 and the underface 47. As the diaphragm 41 continues to move toward the now stationary funnel 63, the water is then forced to tlow upwardly through the tube 19 and to gush from the tube against the transparent coffeecolored lid portion 17 to give the impression of perkingn On its downward stroke, the crank arm 53 carries the diaphragm 41 away from the funnel 63 causing the funnel to drop and to break the liquid-tight seal between the flange 6'7 and the underface 47. When the seal is broken, the water in the reservoir 13 above the funnel is free to ilow under the underface 47, around the skirt 69, and through the cutouts 71 to retlll the conical portion 65 of the funnel as the ilexible diaphragm 41 moves downwardly.

The perking activity of the toy coffeepot is all the more fascinating due to the succession of perks which occur as the crank arm 53 reciprocates under the influence of the drive 73 when the circuit 91 controlling operation of the motor 83 is closed by the switch 29. At any time, anyone playing with the toy can pour the liquid contents from the coffeepot into a cup or the like. Of course, when all the liquid is thus drained from the reservoir, the colleepot will no longer perk Various of the features of the invention are set forth in the following claims.

What is claimed is:

l. In a toy resembling a coffeepot, the combination of a main body, a lid on said main body, said lid having a transparent portion, a liquid reservoir in said body, said reservoir including a ilexible bottom Wall and a peripheral, inwardly extending projection having an underface in spaced relation to said bottom wall, an inverted funnel movably located in said reservoir, said funnel having a peripheral ilange at its lower end extending between said underface and said bottom wall and engageable with said underface to provide a liquid-tight seal, and having an upwardly extending tube with an exit opening adjacent said transparent lid portion, and means for flexing said bottom wall toward said funnel so that,

when said reservoir is filled with liquid to a level above said underface and when said bottom wall is flexed toward said funnel, said llange is sealed against said underface to provide a liquid-tight seal and the liquid in said funnel is forced upwardly and outwardly of said exit opening.

2. In a toy resembling a colleepot, the combination of a main body, a removable lid on said main body, said lid having a transparent portion, a liquid reservoir in said body lillable when said lid is removed, said reservoir including a flexible bottom wall and a peripheral, inwardly extending projection having an underface in spaced relation to said bottom wall, a pouring spout extending from said main body and communicating with said reservoir, an inverted funnel movably located in said reservoir, said funnel having a peripheral flange at its lower end extending between said underface and said bottom Wall and engageable with said underface to provide a liquidtight seal, and having an upwardly extending tube with an exit opening adjacent said transparent lid portion, and means for flexing said bottom wall toward said funnel so that, when said reservoir is lllled with liquid to a level above said underface and when said bottom wall is llexed toward said funnel, said ange is sealed against said underface to provide a liquid-tight seal and the liquid in said funnel is forced upwardly and outwardly of said exit opening.

3. In a toy resembling a cotfeepot, the combination of a main body, a lid on said main body, said lid having a transparent portion, a liquid reservoir in said body, said reservoir including a flexible bottom wall and Ia peripheral, inwardly extending projection having an underface in spaced relation to said bottom wall, an inverted funnel movably located in said reservoir, said funnel having a peripheral flange at its lower end extending between said underface and said bottom wall and engageable with said underface to provide a liquid-tight seal, and having an upwardly extending tube with an exit opening adjacent said transparent lid portion, a crank arm connected to said bottom wall for flexing thereof toward said funnel so that, when said reservoir is lled with liquid to a level above said underface and when said bottom wall is ilexed toward said funnel, said ilange is sealed against said underface to provide a liquid-tight seal and the liquid in said funnel is forced upwardly and outwardly of said exit opening, a crank shaft supported in said body and carrying said crank arm, and motor means for rotating said crank shaft.

4. In a toy resembling a coffeepot, the combination of a main body, a removable lid on said main body, said lid having a coffee-colored transparent portion, a liquid reservoir in said body fillable with liquid when said lid is removed, said reservoir including a flexible bottom wall and ya peripheral, inwardly extending projection having an underface in spaced relation to said bottom wall, a pouring spout extending from said main body and communicating with said reservoir, an inverted funnel movably located in said reservoir, said funnel having a peripheral llange at its lower end extending between said underface and said bottom wall and engageable with said underface to provide a liquid-tight seal, and having an upwardly extending tube with an exit opening adjacent said transparent lid portion, a crank arm connected to said bottom wall for flexing thereof toward said funnel so that, when said reservoir is filled with liquid to a level above said underface and when said bottom wall is flexed toward said funnel, said tlange is sealed against said underface to provide a liquid-tight seal and the liquid in said funnel is forced upwardly and outwardly of said exit opening, a crank shaft supported in said body and carrying said crank arm, an electrical motor located in said main body and connected to said crank shaft for rotation thereof, battery support means located in said main body, and an electrical circuit extending from said battery support means to said motor, said circuit includvand a motor in said pot drivingly connected to said pump.

6. A toy percolator comprising a pot having a lid with a transparent portion, a liquid reservoir in `the pot, and a mechanical pump in the pot having a discharge conduit directed upwardly and terminating in an open end beneath and adjacent -to said transparent portion, said pump and conduit being capable of spouting liquid freely upwardly from said open end toward said transparent portion. v

7. A toy percolator comprising a pot Ihaving a lid with a transparent portion, a liquid reservoir in said pot, a

pouring spout communicating with said reservoir and extending from said pot, a conduit in said pot having an open end adjacent said transparent portion, a mechanical pump in said pot for delivering liquid from said reservoir through said conduit toward said transparent portion',

said pumpv including a movable member contacting the liquid to eiect delivery thereof as aforesaid, said pump and said conduit being capable of spouting liquid freely V-upwardlykfrom said open end toward said transparent portion, an electric motor in said pot drivingly `connected to said pump means, and means for controlling the operation of said motor.

8. A toy percolator comprising a pot having a lid with a transparent portion, a liquid reservoir in said pot, a v

reciprocating `mechanical pump in said pot for intermittently delivering liquid from said reservoirvtoward said transparent portion, said pump including a reciprocatable diaphragm contacting the liquid to effect delivery thereof as aforesaid, and a motor in said pot drivingly connected to reciprocate said diaphragm.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,080,340 Heissenbuttel Dec. 2, 19113 4,762,126 Smith June 3, 1930 2,557,317 Serio June 19, 1951 2,715,868 Brown Aug. 23, 1955 2,880,664 Bagarozy Apr. 7, 1959 

